Goss easily confirmed by Senate to head CIA

Bush's choice to head CIA easily confirmed by SenateFloridian Goss is 2nd congressman to become top spy

Associated Press

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, September 23, 2004

WASHINGTON - The Republican-led Senate approved President Bush's choice to head the CIA, Rep. Porter Goss, over protests from some Democrats who said he has too many Republican ties for a job that requires independence.

The nomination of the Florida congressman, who had planned to retire after eight terms, was confirmed Wednesday by a vote of 77-17. A former CIA and Army intelligence officer during the 1960s, Goss would be only the second congressman to take over the helm of the CIA, following former President and House member George H.W. Bush.

Goss, 65, will lead an intelligence community that has faced intense criticism for failures prior to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and for its prewar estimates on Iraq. Yet defenders say the 15 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence network have become more focused and made changes to address international terrorism and other threats.

Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., rejected suggestions that Goss is too political and said he would be an appropriate intelligence chief during a tumultuous time. As Congress considers significant changes to the intelligence community's structure, Goss may be taking a job that soon won't exist, Roberts said. Congress is considering creating a more expansive job of national intelligence director, and Goss has been named as a possibility for that post.